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 Sarasota County
 Code of Ordinances
 Appendix A. ZONING REGULATIONS
 Article 9. ENFORCEMENT

  § 9.3. Penalties for Violation, Resort to Other Remedies.  

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  • 9.3.1.

    Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of these zoning regulations, or any requirement incorporated herein, may be prosecuted through criminal proceedings as provided in F.S. § 125.69, and may be punished by the maximum fine or imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense for purposes of this paragraph.

    9.3.2.

    The owner or tenant of any building, structure, premises, or part thereof, and any architect, building contractor, surveyor, agent, or other person who commits, participates in, assists in, or maintains such violation may each be found guilty of a separate offense and suffer the penalties herein provided. All fines collected under this section shall be deposited into a code enforcement account to augment code enforcement services.

    9.3.3.

    Any person who opposes, obstructs, or resists any Code Enforcement Officer or any person authorized by the Code Enforcement Officer in the discharge of his/her duties as provided by these zoning regulations shall be in violation of these regulations and prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, punishable by a fine, or by imprisonment not to exceed 60 days, or by both a fine and imprisonment.

    9.3.4.

    The County is expressly authorized to take such other lawful action, or combination of actions, against any owner or other person as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation of these zoning regulations, including, but not limited to, resort to equitable action for injunctive relief, and enforcement pursuant to F.S. ch. 162, and Article VIII, Chapter 2, of the Sarasota County Code, as amended. Fines for offenses prosecuted as citations under Article VIII, Chapter 2, of the Sarasota County Code, shall be established by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.

    9.3.5.

    The County shall have full discretion to select among appropriate remedies based on which of the remedies would be the most effective in a particular situation.